Into The Lion Den
1022 Words
The bloodstained scroll trembled in Nysera’s hands.
Bring the Queen… or he dies.
The words seemed to burn into her heart.
Around her, silence settled over the ruined palace courtyard. Even the wind had stopped, as though the kingdom itself was waiting for her decision.
Lady Selene’s voice shook.
“My Queen… it’s a trap.”
“It is,” Draven agreed. “Caelan wants you to come alone.”
The Shadow King folded his arms.
“And if you do, he’ll try to take the relics.”
Nysera looked at each of them.
“If I don’t go, Elder Cassian dies.”
No one argued.
Because they all knew she was right.
That evening, the royal council gathered in the war chamber.
A map of the kingdom lay spread across the table.
“The message was delivered by a shadow raven,” one general explained.
“It came from the Valley of Eternal Frost.”
Draven frowned.
“That’s impossible.”
“Why?” Nysera asked.
“Because no one has entered that valley in centuries and returned alive.”
Lady Selene pointed to the northern mountains.
“Legend says the valley belongs to the spirits who guard the Tears of the Moon.”
“The third relic,” Nysera whispered.
The Shadow King nodded.
“So this isn’t just a rescue.”
“It’s a race.”
“If Caelan reaches the relic first…”
“He’ll become unstoppable.”
Later that night…
Nysera stood alone on the palace balcony.
The crimson moon still hung over the kingdom.
Footsteps approached behind her.
She didn’t turn.
“I knew it was you.”
Draven stopped beside her.
“You’ve learned to recognize my footsteps.”
A small smile appeared on her lips.
“You’ve always been there.”
For a moment, neither of them spoke.
Finally, Draven broke the silence.
“When this is over…”
“I owe you the rest of the truth.”
Nysera looked at him.
“I know.”
“I also know you’re carrying guilt that doesn’t belong to you.”
His expression softened.
“You still trust me?”
She stepped closer.
“I trust the man who’s risked his life for me again and again.”
Draven gently brushed a loose strand of hair away from her face.
“I’ll never let anything happen to you.”
Their eyes met.
The distance between them disappeared.
Slowly…
Almost instinctively…
Draven leaned closer.
Nysera closed her eyes.
Just as their lips were about to meet—
“Your Majesty!”
Lady Selene’s voice echoed across the balcony.
The two quickly stepped apart.
Lady Selene stopped, trying very hard not to smile.
“I’m… sorry to interrupt.”
Nysera felt her cheeks grow warm.
“What is it?”
“A prisoner wishes to see you.”
The prisoner was chained inside the palace dungeon.
He wore the armor of Caelan’s army.
Unlike the others, he looked terrified.
The moment Nysera entered, he dropped to his knees.
“Please…”
“You must leave this kingdom.”
Nysera frowned.
“Who are you?”
“My name is Orion.”
“I was one of Caelan’s commanders.”
Draven immediately drew his sword.
“This is a trick.”
“No!”
Orion shook his head desperately.
“I escaped.”
“Caelan doesn’t know.”
The Shadow King stepped forward.
“Then start talking.”
Orion swallowed hard.
“Caelan never intended to negotiate.”
“We know that.”
“He already has Elder Cassian.”
“We know that too.”
Orion looked directly at Nysera.
“But that’s not why he kidnapped him.”
Nysera’s heart raced.
“What do you mean?”
Orion hesitated.
Then he whispered—
“Elder Cassian carries the map.”
“What map?”
“The map leading to the Tears of the Moon.”
The room fell silent.
Draven exchanged a worried glance with the Shadow King.
“So that’s his real objective.”
Orion nodded.
“And there’s more.”
He looked at Nysera with fear in his eyes.
“Caelan has awakened…”
“…the Moon Eater.”
Every face in the room went pale.
Lady Selene nearly dropped the torch she was holding.
“No…”
Nysera looked around in confusion.
“What is the Moon Eater?”
No one answered.
Finally…
The Shadow King spoke.
“It isn’t a beast.”
“It isn’t a man.”
“It’s a creature created before the werewolf kingdoms existed.”
“It feeds on moonlight.”
“And when the moon disappears…”
“Werewolves lose every trace of their power.”
Nysera felt cold.
“If he releases it…”
“Our people will become defenseless.”
The Shadow King nodded.
“And millions will die.”
The next morning…
The palace gates opened.
Snow fell gently as Nysera mounted her white wolf.
Draven rode beside her.
The Shadow King led the warriors at the front.
Behind them marched the newly freed Silver Guardians.
Their destination…
The Valley of Eternal Frost.
As the army disappeared into the snowy mountains…
Far ahead…
Caelan stood on a cliff overlooking the frozen valley.
Elder Cassian was chained beside an ancient stone altar.
The old man smiled weakly.
“You’ll never find the relic.”
Caelan laughed.
“I don’t need to.”
He looked toward the approaching army.
“The Queen will bring it to me.”
Suddenly…
The frozen lake beneath the altar cracked.
A low growl echoed from beneath the ice.
The sound was so deep…
Even Caelan’s soldiers stepped back in fear.
Then…
A gigantic crimson eye slowly opened beneath the frozen surface.
Caelan smiled.
“Wake up…”
“My greatest weapon.”
The ice exploded.
Something enormous began to rise.
The legendary Moon Eater has awakened beneath the frozen lake just as Nysera and her allies arrive at the Valley of Eternal Frost. Can they rescue Elder Cassian before the ancient creature is fully unleashed, or will Caelan finally gain the power to plunge the werewolf world into eternal darkness?
- Writer
